'Only 2 per cent of farmers in Bengal got soil health cards'

The West Bengal government has been able to distribute soil health cards among only two per cent of the 72 lakh farmers in the state, but has assured to complete the task by March, 2017, Union Minister of Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh said here today.
"There are 72 lakh farmers in West Bengal, out of which only two per cent have been given soil health cards," he told newspersons here after a stock-taking meeting with the state's agriculture department officers.
"The speed of distribution is slow, but the state government has assured it will be able to complete the task by March, 2017, the deadline fixed to complete the project," the minister said.

The Narendra Modi government at the Centre had launched the soil health card scheme in February, 2015 with the objective to issue the soil cards to about 14 crore farmers spread all over India.
The cards carry crop wise recommendations of nutrients or fertilizers required for farms, making it possible for farmers to improve productivity by using appropriate inputs.
With regard to bringing uniformity in the rules and regulations for bringing all 'mandis' (markets) across the country under 'one nation one mandi' scheme for the benefit of farmers, the Union Minister said, "We have requested the West Bengal government to bring changes in laws for setting up of e-mandis and linking it to the national e-mandi platform.